James Hood on George Wallace: 'He was doing what he had to do'

Published: Saturday, February 26, 2011 at 10:08 p.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, February 26, 2011 at 10:11 p.m.

Gadsden native James Hood, who was one of the first African-Americans to enroll at the University of Alabama, said he has long forgiven former Gov. George Wallace for Wallace’s “stand in the schoolhouse door” in 1963 that attempted to keep Hood and another black student out of the university.

Hood said he met with Wallace in 1996 at the former governor’s office in Montgomery, while he was working on a doctorate at UA.

He said Wallace apologized for his actions and described the former governor as “very sincere.”

Hood said the apology didn’t take away the hurt over the events of June 11, 1963, outside Foster Auditorium in Tuscaloosa, but added, “It just made me realize the importance of forgiving him before that.

“I knew it wasn’t him doing it, he was doing what he had to do,” Hood said.

Hood, a 1961 graduate of Carver High School, will be honored at the Central-Carver Foundation’s annual banquet at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Senior Activity Center in downtown Gadsden.

He was only at UA for a few months in 1963 before withdrawing and moving to Michigan. He received a bachelor’s degree from Wayne State University and a masters’ degree from Michigan State University, before achieving his goal of returning to UA for a doctorate.

When Hood returned to Alabama, he asked to meet with Wallace and the former governor agreed.

He said he was surprised to see reporters present for the meeting, but said Wallace wanted them there.

Wallace, only a few months into his first term as Alabama’s governor, attempted to bar Hood and Vivian Malone from registering at UA and refused to move in an initial confrontation with Deputy Attorney General Nicholas Katzenbach. Later that day, he obeyed a request from a National Guard general to move, after President John F. Kennedy had federalized the Guard.

Hood called the arrangement Wallace had made with Kennedy to move and not face possible arrest or forcible removal “a song and dance.”

He said Wallace already had told Kennedy he would step aside, but wanted to make a statement criticizing federal intervention to integrate the university.

Hood said some people were surprised that he was able to forgive Wallace, but pointed out Wallace only was doing what politicians do.

“People don’t understand it, I guess you have to be born here to understand,” he said. “When you make a promise to people, you’ve got to keep it, one way or the other, and George Wallace did that.

“He made a promise he was going to stand in the door and he did it. And I accepted that. I didn’t think it was against me, it was just against my way of life.”

Hood said Wallace made “a political stand,” and he never felt any animosity toward him.

“They (say) the worst thing in the world is to hate and that hate can destroy you, and I didn’t want that to happen,” he said. “So I forgave him a long time ago.

“I said then he was doing what he had to do to make sure he stayed governor.”

Hood said Malone, who died in 2005, was upset at Wallace, but he told her there was no need for it since Wallace was going to make his stand regardless.

“We knew he was going to step aside anyway, because he promised the president he would,” Hood said.

“It was a song and a dance, that’s all it was — with the president’s permission.”

<p>Gadsden native James Hood, who was one of the first African-Americans to enroll at the University of Alabama, said he has long forgiven former Gov. George Wallace for Wallace's “stand in the schoolhouse door” in 1963 that attempted to keep Hood and another black student out of the university.</p><p>Hood said he met with Wallace in 1996 at the former governor's office in Montgomery, while he was working on a doctorate at UA.</p><p>He said Wallace apologized for his actions and described the former governor as “very sincere.” </p><p>Hood said the apology didn't take away the hurt over the events of June 11, 1963, outside Foster Auditorium in Tuscaloosa, but added, “It just made me realize the importance of forgiving him before that.</p><p>“I knew it wasn't him doing it, he was doing what he had to do,” Hood said. </p><p>Hood, a 1961 graduate of Carver High School, will be honored at the Central-Carver Foundation's annual banquet at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Senior Activity Center in downtown Gadsden.</p><p>He was only at UA for a few months in 1963 before withdrawing and moving to Michigan. He received a bachelor's degree from Wayne State University and a masters' degree from Michigan State University, before achieving his goal of returning to UA for a doctorate.</p><p>When Hood returned to Alabama, he asked to meet with Wallace and the former governor agreed.</p><p>He said he was surprised to see reporters present for the meeting, but said Wallace wanted them there.</p><p>Wallace, only a few months into his first term as Alabama's governor, attempted to bar Hood and Vivian Malone from registering at UA and refused to move in an initial confrontation with Deputy Attorney General Nicholas Katzenbach. Later that day, he obeyed a request from a National Guard general to move, after President John F. Kennedy had federalized the Guard.</p><p>Hood called the arrangement Wallace had made with Kennedy to move and not face possible arrest or forcible removal “a song and dance.”</p><p>He said Wallace already had told Kennedy he would step aside, but wanted to make a statement criticizing federal intervention to integrate the university.</p><p>Hood said some people were surprised that he was able to forgive Wallace, but pointed out Wallace only was doing what politicians do.</p><p>“People don't understand it, I guess you have to be born here to understand,” he said. “When you make a promise to people, you've got to keep it, one way or the other, and George Wallace did that.</p><p>“He made a promise he was going to stand in the door and he did it. And I accepted that. I didn't think it was against me, it was just against my way of life.”</p><p>Hood said Wallace made “a political stand,” and he never felt any animosity toward him.</p><p>“They (say) the worst thing in the world is to hate and that hate can destroy you, and I didn't want that to happen,” he said. “So I forgave him a long time ago.</p><p>“I said then he was doing what he had to do to make sure he stayed governor.”</p><p>Hood said Malone, who died in 2005, was upset at Wallace, but he told her there was no need for it since Wallace was going to make his stand regardless.</p><p>“We knew he was going to step aside anyway, because he promised the president he would,” Hood said.</p><p>“It was a song and a dance, that's all it was — with the president's permission.”</p>